BOOKS

After Rembrandt, engraved by J McArdell Tobias with the Angel. "Tobias with the Angel." from the Original in the COLLECTION of Mr Reynolds. London J. McArdell 1742-1765
Black & white Mezzotint by James McArdell after Rembrandt; Laid down to later paper.Tobias with the Angel; Tobias sitting on riverbank with his dog beside him, the angel kneeling over him; both he and his dog gazing in terror at grotesque fish emerging from the Tigris at right; shepherds and figures crossing bridge in landscape beyond; Lettered with 'signature' as Rembrandt within image.

Tobias and the Angel is the title given to paintings and other artworks depicting a scene in which Tobias, son of Tobit, meets an angel without realising he is an angel (Book of Tobit, 5.5-6) and is then instructed by the angel what to do with a giant fish he catches (Book of Tobit, 6.2-9). Dark impression; trimmed to plate mark and laid down at some time to late [modern?] paper probably to preserve due to the following faults: creasing; upper right corner missing and replaced with later paper and pencil; 3 tears to upper margin [approx 20-30mm] ;long paper fault to sky.
British Museum No:1870,0625.582 [ proof before letters]; Goodwin 214.II; not in Chaloner Smith. 480 by 357mm (19 by 14 inches). €350

After Robert Smirke, engraved by James Godby. The Meeting of Isaac & Rebekah. "The Meeting of Isaac and Rebekah.// Recontre d'Isaac et de Rebecca." London John Murphy. 1801
Stipple engraving by James Godby after the painting by Robert Smrke of the meeting between Isaac and Rebekah. Modern hand colour.

The image shows Rebekah standing demurely in centre, covering her face with her veil as she is introduced to Isaac standing at right, servants surrounding and camels behind, camp in background at right.

Lettered below image with title in English and French and bible reference, production detail: "R. Smirke pinxit/ J. Murphy excudit/ James Godby sculpsit" [lacks publication line: "London, Published Octr. 1st. 1801 by John Murphy No. 19 Howland Street, Fitzroy Square"} Good impression; trimmed to plate mark , shaving off publication line; olded just right of centre [ from being bound?]; some spotting and offsetting to title; modern hand colour.
British Museum No:1953,0214.46 471 by 590mm (18½ by 23¼ inches). €250

After Schall by A. Legrande [le Grande]. Innocence Recognized. "L'innocence Reconnue." Paris "chez Depuille, Md. d'Estampes, Rue St Denis no 52 Section de Bon Conseil." C1790-1800
Black and white copper & stipple engraving of a scene from the legend of Genevieve of Brabant by Augustin Legearde after Schall. Title in FrenchThe image shows Genevieve of Brabant with her son discovered by her husband Siegfried whilst out hunting with a wounded deer at her feet.

The Genevieve tale first obtained wide popularity in L'Innocence reconnue, ou vie de Sainte Genevieve de Brabant(pr. 1638) by the Jesuit René de Cerisiers (1603–1662).The story is a typical example of the widespread tale of the chaste wife falsely accused and repudiated, generally on the word of a rejected suitor. Genevieve of Brabant was said to be the wife of the palatine Siegfried of Treves, and was falsely accused by the majordomo Golo. Sentenced to death, she was spared by the executioner and lived for six years with her son in a cave in the Ardennes nourished by a roe. Siegfried, who had meanwhile found out Golo's treachery, was chasing the roe when he discovered her hiding-place, and reinstated her in her former honour. Dark impression; light toning; trimmed to plate mark ; short tears to upper and lower margins, one longer ( approx 70mm )entering image at upper margin.
520 by 615mm (20½ by 24¼ inches). €450

The image shows Artemis-Diana and her nymphs resting in a landscape, one of the nymphs is helping the goddess to put on her sandals, while another pours the content of a small vase over her headAccording to the Homeric account and Hesiod (Theog. 918) Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto She was the sister of Apollo, and born with him at the same time in the island of Delos. One of the great divinities of the Greeks. Her name is usually derived from artemês, uninjured, healthy, vigorous; according to which she would be the goddess who is herself inviolate and vigorous, and also grants strength and health to others. The representations of the Greek Artemis in works of art are different accordingly as she is represented either as a huntress, or as the goddess of the moon; yet in either case she appears as a youthful and vigorous divinity, as becomes the sister of Apollo. As the huntress, she is tall, nimble, and has small hips; her forehead is high, her eyes glancing freely about, and her hair tied up behind in such a manner, that some locks float down her neck; her breast is covered, and the legs up to the knees are naked, the rest being covered by the chlamys. Her attributes are the bow, quiver, and arrows, or a spear, stags, and dogs. As the goddess of the moon, she wears a long robe which reaches down to her feet, a veil covers her head, and above her forehead rises the crescent of the moon. In her hand she often appears holding a torch. Dark impression; centre fold; clean and bright; large paper; wide margins.
British Museum no:1850,0810.428 Le Blanc 43 380 by 497mm (15 by 19½ inches). €750

Alexis Hubert Jaillot. The Deserts of Egypt , Arabia & Syria with Cyprus. " Les Deserts d'Egypt, de Thebiade d'Arabie et de Sirie &c...."A Paris. "Chez E Michalet". 1693
Large double page copper engraved map of Cyprus, Egypt and Syria from Jaillot's "Atlas Nouveau"1698. Original old outline colour; verso blank.The map shows the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus as it lies off the coasts of Egypt, Arabia & Syria. The map is oriented North east with Cyprus at the top centre and the Red Sea also in the centre of the mapDecorative title cartouche and scale. Evenly lightly toned; some minor spotting to margins; old ink number in top right corner of margin.
570 by 780mm (22½ by 30¾ inches). €1000

Alexis Hubert Jaillot. The Deserts of Egypt , Arabia & Syria with Cyprus. " Les Deserts d'Egypt, de Thebiade d'Arabie et de Sirie &c...."A Paris. "Chez E Michalet" 1693
Large double page copper engraved map of Cyprus, Egypt and Syria from Jaillot's "Atlas Nouveau"1698. Original full colour; verso blank.The map shows the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus as it lies off the coasts of Egypt, Arabia & Syria. The map is oriented North east with Cyprus at the top centre and the Red Sea also in the centre of the mapDecorative title cartouche and scale. Evenly toned; some minor spotting mainly to margins but also within the Red Sea; old ink number in top right corner of margin.
570 by 780mm (22½ by 30¾ inches). €1200